'Very likely' Queenslanders visited Sydney hotel, now COVID-19 hotspot
An urgent public health alert has been issued in Queensland after a Sydney hotel popular with travellers has been identified as the source of a COVID-19 outbreak in NSW.
Any Queenslanders who visited the Crossroads Hotel in the south-western Sydney suburb of Casula from July 3 to July 10 inclusive should isolate and get tested immediately.
Medical staff at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Casula in NSW, where the local Crossroads Hotel is now a hotspot.Credit:David Gray - Getty Images
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said the hotel had been identified as the hub for multiple COVID-19 cases.
"The hotel is a busy stopover for many travellers, so it is very likely that there are a number of Queenslanders who have been there during this period," he said.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said NSW Health had set up a pop-up clinic in south-western Sydney where hundreds had already been tested.
"We have seen cases increase exponentially in the greater-Melbourne area and now there is a growing cluster in south-west Sydney," she said.
"Critically, we have also seen community transmission rapidly grow within just a few weeks.
"The onus remains on our community to remember that the pandemic is far from over. We need to rapidly respond to outbreaks like this by testing and self-isolating."
Two new Queensland COVID-19 cases were confirmed at the weekend and one sufferer had recovered, leaving the state with three active cases.
Both new cases were people returning from overseas and had been in isolation since arriving. The total confirmed Queensland cases rose to 1070 and more than 415,000 people have been tested.
There are testing facilities across the state including GPs, fever clinics and pop-up clinics. To find your nearest location, visit the Queensland Health website.